Methods and Apparatus for Source and Load Power Transfer Control

ABSTRACT

A power transfer electrical system includes an electrical signal source that generates a current at an output. An electrical load is electrically connected to the output of the electrical signal source. An output of a controllable voltage source is also electrically connected to the electrical load. The controllable voltage source generates a voltage that is proportional to the current generated by the electrical signal source. An input of a controller is electrically connected to the output of the electrical signal source and an output of the controller is electrically connected to a control input of the controllable voltage source. The controller generates a signal that controls the voltage generated by the controllable voltage source so that a desirable amount of power is transferred from the electrical signal source to the controllable voltage source.

The section headings used herein are for organizational purposes onlyand should not to be construed as limiting the subject matter describedin the present application in any way.

INTRODUCTION

It is highly desirable in most electrical systems to be able to controlthe transfer of electrical power between a source and a load. FIG. 1illustrates the general shape of the dependence of the load power on theratio of the load resistance R_(Load) to the source resistanceR_(Source). The maximum power transfer theorem dictates that maximumpower transfer from a source to a load occurs when the load impedancematches the source impedance, as shown in FIG. 1. Generally, the sourceand load impedances are complex and can be represented as R_(i)±jX_(i),where i is the index representing source or load. For maximum powertransfer, the complex impedances must form a conjugate match. Thus, boththe resistive, R_(i), components must be equal and the reactive, X_(j),components must be equal, but of opposite sign; the conjugate match isoften written as Z_(Source)=Z_(Load)*. When referring to load impedance,the term “unmatched” means that the load impedance is something otherthan the complex conjugate of the antenna impedance.

For some systems, it is not desirable to have maximum power transferfrom the source to the load during some or all modes of operation. Inthese systems, it is often desirable to have other particular powertransfer ratios between the source and the load. In some systems,maximum power transfer between the source and the load is desired insome operating modes, while particular power transfer ratios between thesource and the load are desired in other operating modes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present teaching, in accordance with preferred and exemplaryembodiments, together with further advantages thereof, is moreparticularly described in the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. The skilled person in theart will understand that the drawings, described below, are forillustration purposes only. The drawings are not necessarily to scale,emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating principles ofthe teaching. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of theApplicant's teaching in any way.

FIG. 1 illustrates a known power transfer curve as a function of theratio of load resistance to source resistance.

FIG. 2 illustrates a Thevenin equivalent circuit of a power transferelectrical system.

FIG. 3A illustrates a power transfer electrical system according to thepresent teaching that includes a single, independent-signal-sourceantenna, shown as an antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit electricallyconnected to a series combination of a fixed load impedance and acontrollable voltage source.

FIG. 3B illustrates a power transfer electrical system according to thepresent teaching that includes a single, independent-signal-sourceantenna, shown as an antenna Norton equivalent circuit electricallyconnected to a parallel combination of a fixed load admittance and acontrollable current source.

FIG. 4A illustrates a power transfer electrical system according to thepresent teaching that includes a multiple, independent-signal-sourceantenna, shown as an antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit electricallyconnected to a series combination of a fixed load impedance and acontrollable voltage source.

FIG. 4B illustrates the power transfer electrical system described inconnection with FIG. 4A that includes the multiple,independent-signal-source antenna, shown as an antenna Theveninequivalent circuit with the second voltage sources shorted so that thesecond voltage V_(Rx2) equals zero.

FIG. 4C illustrates the power transfer electrical system described inconnection with FIG. 4A that includes the multiple,independent-signal-source antenna, shown as an antenna Theveninequivalent circuit with the first voltage sources shorted so that thefirst voltage V_(Rx1) equals zero.

FIG. 5A illustrates an embodiment of a power transfer electrical systemaccording to the present teaching with no load impedance.

FIG. 5B illustrates an embodiment of a power transfer electrical systemaccording to the present teaching with no source impedance.

FIG. 5C illustrates an embodiment of a power transfer electrical systemaccording to the present teaching with a controllable load impedance.

FIG. 5D illustrates an embodiment of a power transfer electrical systemaccording to the present teaching with a controllable source impedance.

FIG. 5E illustrates an embodiment of a power transfer electrical systemaccording to the present teaching with no impedances.

FIG. 6 illustrates a power transfer electrical system according to thepresent teaching that includes a difference circuit.

FIG. 7A illustrates an embodiment of balun-type differencing circuitthat can be used with the power transfer electrical system according tothe present teaching that was described in connection with FIG. 6.

FIG. 7B illustrates an embodiment of a Field Effect Transistor(FET)-type differencing circuit that can be used with the power transferelectrical system according to the present teaching that was describedin connection with FIG. 6.

FIG. 7C illustrates an embodiment of a differential amplifier-typedifferencing circuit that can be used with the power transfer electricalsystem according to the present teaching that was described inconnection with FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment”means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic describedin connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodimentof the teaching. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” invarious places in the specification are not necessarily all referring tothe same embodiment.

It should be understood that the individual steps of the methods of thepresent teachings may be performed in any order and/or simultaneously aslong as the teaching remains operable. Furthermore, it should beunderstood that the apparatus and methods of the present teachings caninclude any number or all of the described embodiments as long as theteaching remains operable.

The present teaching will now be described in more detail with referenceto exemplary embodiments thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings.While the present teachings are described in conjunction with variousembodiments and examples, it is not intended that the present teachingsbe limited to such embodiments. On the contrary, the present teachingsencompass various alternatives, modifications and equivalents, as willbe appreciated by those of skill in the art. Those of ordinary skill inthe art having access to the teaching herein will recognize additionalimplementations, modifications, and embodiments, as well as other fieldsof use, which are within the scope of the present disclosure asdescribed herein.

Many single-signal communications system need to control the relativeimpedance between a source and a load and thus, the power transferbetween the source and a load. Many communications systems desiremaximum power transfer, but in other systems, it is desirable to haveparticular non-maximum-power-transfer power transfer ratios between thesource and the load that can be fixed or variable for variousapplications.

Power transfer control in multi-signal communications systems is morecomplicated than power transfer control in single-signal communicationsystems. Some modern RF systems achieve lower cost and higher utility byusing a single electrical antenna system that can provide a large numberof RF signal formats, data modulation schemes, and operatingfrequencies. For these systems, it is difficult or impossible todetermine a single fixed antenna load that is optimal for each of a widevariety of signals. Also, it is difficult for these multi-signalcommunications systems to efficiently receive a wide variety of incomingsignals with a single receiver system. Furthermore, in some of thesemulti-signal systems, the incoming signals include a combination ofhigh-power and low power signals and, in some particular systems, thedifference in power levels between various signals can be several ordersof magnitude. Thus, modern communication systems would benefit greatlyfrom controllable source and load power transfer methods and apparatusthat can accommodate a large number of multi-signal RF systems atvarious power levels.

One aspect of the present teaching is to provide a controllable load foran arbitrary source, such as an antenna source in one particularembodiment, that will enable the extraction of high power from somesignals and lower power from others, even if the spectra of the high andlow power signals overlap. Such a controllable load is particularlyuseful if the system needs to operate in an environment where there areboth strong and weak signals because these controllable loads wouldpermit transferring a maximum amount of power from weak signals whilesimultaneously transferring as little power as desired from strongsignals.

For the purpose of illustrating the present teaching, severalembodiments of the methods and apparatus of the present teaching aredescribed in connection with control of power transfer between anantenna source and a load connected to the antenna. The load connectedto the antenna is typically a receiver in an RF communication system.However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the methods andapparatus of the present teaching applies to any electrical sources andloads. For example, one skilled in the art will appreciate thatelectrical sources and loads may include an AC or DC power source thatis driving a motor load; an audio amplifier source driving a speakerload; or a transmit amplifier source driving an antenna load. Oneskilled in the art will appreciate that an antenna may act as a load onone system configuration, but in other system configurations, an antennamay act as a source. Consequently, one skilled in the art willappreciate that the following description of an antenna as a source inthe detailed description is not in any way a limitation on the presentteaching.

Known prior art systems provide a particular fixed power transferbetween an antenna and its load by selecting a desired antenna loadimpedance that is determined as part of the overall system design. Thepresent teaching is particularly useful for systems where multiplesignals are simultaneously incident on the antenna and the power levelsof those signals vary over a wide range. One aspect of the presentteaching is to provide methods and systems that provide variable controlof the load so that the antenna can beneficially operate with aplurality of signals.

FIG. 2 shows a Thevenin equivalent circuit 200 of a power transferelectrical system. The electrical source is represented by the Theveninequivalent circuit 208. The Thevenin equivalent circuit 208 comprises anindependent active voltage source 210. The transfer of power from theactive voltage source 210 to the load impedance 204 is represented bythe power P_(Load). The power P_(Load) is determined by the values ofthe source impedance 212, Z_(Source), and by the load impedance 204Z_(Load). For the case where the impedances 212 and 204 are real, thepower transfer in the circuit shown in FIG. 2 can be described by theplot of load power as a function of the ratio of the load resistanceR_(Load) to the source resistance R_(Source) shown in FIG. 1 The powerto the load can be expressed mathematically as:

$P_{Load} = {{Re}\left\{ {\frac{V_{Rx}^{2}}{\left( {Z_{Antenna} + Z_{Load}} \right)^{2}}Z_{Load}} \right\}}$

where Re { } denotes the real part of the expression in braces. Thevariable V_(Rx) ² is the square of the voltage supplied by theindependent active voltage source 210. In the art, the load is sometimesreferred to as a “sink”, especially when the load can dissipate power.

To implement the apparatus of present teaching at least one controllableelectrical element is required. This means that at least one of theimpedances, or equivalently at least one of the admittances, in FIG. 2must be made controllable. Alternatively, the controllable electricalelement can be realized in the form of a controllable voltage source ora controllable current source, which can be added to the circuit shownin FIG. 2. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that anideal source, such as a voltage or current source, cannot be realized inpractice since it would have zero or infinite impedance, respectively.Consequently, any physically realizable source will have a finite,non-zero impedance, which will be in addition to theimpedances/admittances that are specifically shown in the drawings.

FIG. 3A illustrates a power transfer electrical system 300 according tothe present teaching that includes a single-signal antenna source, shownas an antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 302 electrically connected toan electrical sink circuit, which in some embodiments comprises a seriescombination of a fixed load impedance 304 and a controllable voltagesource 306. The antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 302 is shown as anindependent voltage source 308 that generates a voltage V_(Rx1) inresponse to a received signal and a Thevenin antenna impedanceZ_(Antenna) 310. The antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 302 generatesan output current I_(Antenna) 312. In this embodiment, the antennaThevenin equivalent circuit 302 is designed to receive a single signaland then to generate the current I_(Antenna) 312 in response to thereception.

The controllable voltage source 306 provides controllable power transferbetween the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 302 and the fixed loadimpedance 304 according to the present teaching. The controllablevoltage source 306 generates at an output a controllable voltageV_(Load) that is a function of the current generated by the antennaThevenin equivalent circuit 302, I_(Antenna) 312.

A controller 314 has an input that is electrically connected to theoutput of the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 302 so that thecurrent generated by the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 302,I_(Antenna) 312, is sensed. An output of the controller 314 iselectrically connected to a control input of the controllable voltagesource 306. The controller 314 generates a signal in response to thevalue of the current generated by the antenna Thevenin equivalentcircuit 302, I_(Antenna) 312, which sets the output voltage of thecontrollable voltage source 306.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the antenna currentI_(Antenna) 312 is equal to the ratio of the difference between thevoltage V_(Rx1) generated by the independent voltage source 308 and thecontrollable voltage source V_(Load) 306 to the sum of the Theveninantenna impedance Z_(Antenna) 310 and the fixed load impedance 304, asfollows:

$I_{Antenna} = \frac{V_{R \times 1} - V_{Load}}{Z_{Antenna} + Z_{Load}}$

where V_(Load) (I_(Antenna))=A(I_(Antenna)) V_(Rx1) where A is a complexconstant, i.e. Ae^(jϕ). The function of the controller 314 is todetermine a value or values of A that are a function of the current 312.

In the limiting case when the controllable voltage source 306 equals theantenna voltage source, i.e. V_(Load) (I_(Antenna))=V_(Rx1), the currentbetween the controllable voltage source 306 and the voltage source 308in the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 302 will be equal to zero.Under these conditions, the antenna will not accept any real power fromthe free-space field. Consequently, the antenna will reflect incidentelectromagnetic power back out into free space.

The dual of the Thevenin equivalent circuit represented by a voltagesource is the Norton equivalent circuit represented by current sources.FIG. 3B illustrates a power transfer electrical system 320 according tothe present teaching that includes a single signal antenna source shownas an antenna Norton equivalent circuit 322 electrically connected to asink circuit consisting of a parallel combination of a fixed loadadmittance 324 and a controllable current source 326. The antenna Nortonequivalent circuit 322 is shown as an independent current source 328that generates a current I_(Rx1) in response to a received signal and aNorton antenna admittance Y_(Antenna) 330. The antenna Norton equivalentcircuit 322 generates an output voltage V_(Antenna) 332. In thisembodiment, the antenna Norton equivalent circuit 322 is designed toreceive a single signal and then to generate the voltage V_(Antenna) 332in response to the reception.

The controllable current source 326 provides controllable power transferbetween the antenna Norton equivalent circuit 322 and the fixed loadadmittance 324 according to the present teaching. The controllablecurrent source 326 generates at an output a controllable currentI_(Load), which is a function of the voltage generated by the antennaNorton equivalent circuit 322, V_(Antenna) 332.

A controller 334 has an input that is electrically connected to theoutput of the antenna Norton equivalent circuit 322 so that the voltagegenerated by the antenna Norton equivalent circuit 322, V_(Antenna) 332,is sensed. An output of the controller 334 is electrically connected toa control input of the controllable current source 326. The controller334 generates a signal in response to the value of the voltage generatedby the antenna Norton equivalent circuit 322, V_(Antenna) 332, that setsthe output voltage of the controllable current source 326.

Thus, in general, the power transfer electrical system of the presentteaching operates to transfer power from an electrical source circuit toan electrical sink circuit. In some embodiments, the electrical sourcecomprises a current source 328 and source admittance 330. In otherembodiments, the electrical source comprises a voltage source 308 and asource impedance 310. In some embodiments, the electrical sink circuitincludes a controllable voltage source 306 and/or a controllable loadimpedance 534 (see FIG. 5C), which are controlled by the controller 538.In some embodiments, the electrical sink circuit includes a controllablecurrent source 326 and/or a controllable load admittance (not shown),which are controlled by the controller 334. Furthermore, in someembodiments, the electrical elements in the sink circuit are fixed andthe electrical source circuit comprises a controllable impedance that iscontrolled by the controller 550. See FIG. 5D.

FIG. 4A illustrates a power transfer electrical system 400 according tothe present teaching that includes a multiple, independent-signal-sourceantenna, shown as an antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 402electrically connected to a sink circuit comprised of a seriescombination of a fixed load impedance 404 and a controllable voltagesource 406. The power transfer electrical system 400 is similar to thepower transfer electrical system 300 that was described in connectionwith FIG. 3A. However, the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 402includes a Thevenin antenna impedance Z_(Antenna) 410 and a seriescombination of a first voltage source 408 that generates a first voltageV_(Rx1) in response to a first received signal and a second voltagesource 408′ that generates a second voltage V_(Rx2) in response to asecond received signal.

Thus, in this multi-signal embodiment, the antenna Thevenin equivalentcircuit 402 is designed to receive multiple signals and then to generatethe current I_(Antenna) 312 in response to the multiple reception. Morespecifically, the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 402 generates anoutput current I_(Antenna) 412 that is formed by driving the Theveninantenna impedance Z_(Antenna) 410 with a combination of the firstvoltage V_(Rx1) in response to a first signal and the second voltageV_(Rx2) in response to a the second signal.

The controllable voltage source 406 provides controllable power transferbetween the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 402 and the fixed loadimpedance 404 according to the present teaching. The controllablevoltage source 406 generates at an output a controllable voltageV_(Load)(I_(Antenna)), which is a function of the current generated bythe antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 402 I_(Antenna) 410.

A controller 414 has an input that is electrically connected to theoutput of the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 402 so that thecurrent generated by the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 402,I_(Antenna) 412, is sensed. An output of the controller 414 iselectrically connected to a control input of the controllable voltagesource 406. The controller 414 generates a signal in response to thevalue of the current generated by the antenna Thevenin equivalentcircuit 402, I_(Antenna) 412, which sets the output voltage of thecontrollable voltage source 406.

The first and second independent voltage sources 408, 408′ that generatethe first and second voltages V_(Rx1), V_(Rx2) at the first and secondsignals, respectively, represent two independent active antennaelectrical sources, one for each signal. These two independent activeantenna electrical sources allow the source and load power transfercontrol system represented by the Thevenin equivalent circuit 402 of thepower transfer electrical system 400 to be analyzed by superposition.

FIG. 4B illustrates the power transfer electrical system 450 describedin connection with FIG. 4A that includes the multiple,independent-signal-source antenna, shown as an antenna Theveninequivalent circuit 452 with the second independent voltage source 458′shorted so that the second independent voltage V_(Rx2) equals zero.Otherwise, the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 452 is identical tothe antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 402. In the power transferelectrical system 450, the first independent voltage source 458 iselectrically connected to the Thevenin antenna impedance Z_(Antenna)460. The antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 452 is electricallyconnected to a series combination of a fixed load impedance 454 and acontrollable voltage source 456, which is electrically connected to acontroller 464 as described in connection with FIG. 4A. Under theseconditions, the first independent voltage source 458 is now feeding theload impedance 454 via the antenna impedance Z_(Antenna) 460.

A response is first determined for the power transfer electrical system450 with the second independent voltage V_(Rx2) equal to zero orequivalently with the second voltage sources 458′ being shorted. In thispower transfer electrical system 450, the controllable voltage source456 generates V_(Load) that is a function of I_(Antenna(VRx1)) that isgenerated by the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 452. The value ofV_(Load) is V_(Load)=AV_(Rx1) where A is a complex constant, i.e.Ae^(jϕ).

Using the expression for the antenna current I_(Antenna(VRx1)) describedherein, the power dissipated by the load P_(Load) resulting from thefirst voltage V_(Rx1) can be expressed as:

${P_{Load}\left( V_{R \times 1} \right)} = {{Re}\left\{ {\frac{{V_{R \times 1}^{2}\left( {1 - A} \right)}^{2}}{\left( {Z_{Antenna} + Z_{Load}} \right)^{2}}Z_{Load}} \right\}}$

The equation for power dissipated by the load P_(Load) in response tothe first voltage source V_(Rx1) can be controlled by adjusting thecomplex constant A. Thus, for example, the magnitude and phase of thesignal received by the antenna in response to the first voltage sourceV_(Rx1) can be made to be equal to zero, i.e. |A|=1,∠0°. Under thisidealized condition, no power will be extracted from the first signaland all of the first signal power will be reflected by the antenna.

FIG. 4C illustrates the power transfer electrical system 480 describedin connection with FIG. 4A that includes the multiple,independent-signal-source antenna, shown as an antenna Theveninequivalent circuit 482 with the first independent voltage source 488shorted so that the first voltage V_(Rx1) equals zero. As with the powertransfer electrical system 400 described in connection with FIG. 4A, theantenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 482 is identical to the antennaThevenin equivalent circuit 402 where the second independent voltagesource 488′ is electrically connected to the Thevenin antenna impedanceZ_(Antenna) 490. The antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 482 iselectrically connected to a series combination of a fixed load impedance484 and a controllable voltage source 486 as described in connectionwith FIG. 4C. Under these conditions the second independent voltagesource 488′ is now feeding the load impedance 484 via the antennaimpedance Z_(Antenna) 490.

Using the expression for the antenna current I_(Antenna(VRx2)) describedherein, the power dissipated by the load P_(Load) resulting from thesecond voltages V_(Rx2) can be expressed as:

${P_{Load}\left( V_{R \times 2} \right)} = {{Re}\left\{ {\frac{V_{R \times 2}^{2}}{\left( {Z_{Antenna} + Z_{Load}} \right)^{2}}Z_{Load}} \right\}}$

The equation for power dissipated by the load P_(Load) indicates thatwhen V_(Load) 486 equals zero, the power extracted from the antennasecond voltage source 488 is determined only by the values ofZ_(Antenna) and Z_(Load), but is independent of the value of A. When thepower transfer electrical system of the present teaching is configuredfor maximum power transfer for the second signal, the load impedanceZ_(Load) 484 would be designed to be the complex conjugate of theantenna impedance Z_(Antenna) 490, i.e. Z_(Antenna)=Z_(Load)*.

Using the expression for the antenna current I_(Antenna) describedherein, the power dissipated by the load P_(Load) resulting from thefirst and second voltages V_(Rx1), V_(Rx2), when both the first andsecond voltage sources 488, 488′ are active, can be expressed as the sumof the two responses each calculated with one source active:

${P_{Load}({Total})} = {{{P_{Load}\left( V_{R \times 1} \right)} + {P_{Load}\left( V_{R \times 2} \right)}} = {{Re}\left\{ {\frac{{V_{R \times 1}^{2}\left( {1 - A} \right)}^{2} + V_{R \times 2}^{2}}{\left( {Z_{Antenna} + Z_{Load}} \right)^{2}}Z_{Load}} \right\}}}$

Thus, in dual-signal modes of operation, when the first and the secondindependent voltage sources 488, 488′ are active, the power transferelectrical systems of the present teaching can be adjusted to reflectsome portion of the first voltages V_(Rx1) while simultaneouslyextracting some other portion of the second voltage signal V_(Rx2).Similarly, in multi-signal modes of operation when a plurality ofindependent voltage sources are active, the power transfer electricalsystems of the present teaching will reflect some portions of somevoltages signals while simultaneously extracting some portions of othervoltage signals. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the presentteachings can be applied to transfer power from a source to a load withsignals having any number of signals as well as with varying powerlevels.

Referring back to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the embodiments of power transferapparatus described in connection with FIGS. 3A and 3B are generalconfigurations for controlling the transfer of power between a sourceand a load. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that thereare other configurations that may be useful in certain applications. Insome embodiments of the source and load power transfer control apparatusof the present teaching, there is either a source impedance or a loadimpedance, but not both a source and a load impedance, as describedfurther in connection with FIGS. 5A-5B.

FIG. 5A illustrates an embodiment of a power transfer electrical system500 according to the present teaching that includes a single signalantenna source, shown as an antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 502electrically connected to a controllable voltage source 506 with no loadimpedance. The antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 502 is shown as anindependent voltage source 508 that generates a voltage V_(Rx1) inresponse to a received signal and a Thevenin antenna impedanceZ_(Antenna) 510. The antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 502 generatesan output current I_(Antenna) 512. In this embodiment, the antennaThevenin equivalent circuit 502 is designed to receive a single signaland then to generate the current I_(Antenna) 512 in response to thereception of the single signal.

A controller 514 has an input that is electrically connected to theoutput of the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 502 so that thecurrent generated by the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 502,I_(Antenna) 512, is sensed. An output of the controller 514 iselectrically connected to a control input of the controllable voltagesource 506. The controller 514 generates a signal in response to thevalue of the current generated by the antenna Thevenin equivalentcircuit 502, I_(Antenna) 512, which sets the output voltage of thecontrollable voltage source 506.

FIG. 5B illustrates an embodiment of a power transfer electrical system520 according to the present teaching that includes a single signalantenna source, shown as an antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 522electrically connected to a controllable voltage source 526 through aload impedance 524 with no source impedance. A controller 528 has aninput electrically connected to the output of the antenna Theveninequivalent circuit 522 and an output that is electrically connected to acontrol input of the controllable voltage source 526.

In some embodiments, the impedances are controlled rather than thevoltage or current sources. FIG. 5C illustrates an embodiment of a powertransfer electrical system 530 according to the present teaching thatincludes a single signal antenna source shown as an antenna Theveninequivalent circuit 532 electrically connected to an impedance 534 withno controllable voltage source. In this embodiment, the load impedance534 is controlled based on the antenna equivalent current 536. Acontroller 538 has an input electrically connected to the output of theantenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 532 and an output that iselectrically connected to a control input of the load impedance 534.

FIG. 5D illustrates an embodiment of a power transfer electrical system540 according to the present teaching that includes a single-signalantenna source, shown as an antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 542electrically connected to a load impedance 544 with no controllablevoltage source. In this embodiment, the source impedance 546 iscontrolled based on the antenna equivalent current 548. A controller 550has an input electrically connected to the output of the antennaThevenin equivalent circuit 542 and an output that is electricallyconnected to a control input of the source impedance 546.

FIG. 5E illustrates an embodiment of a power transfer electrical system550 according to the present teaching that includes a single-signalantenna source, shown as an antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 552 withno source impedance, electrically connected to a controllable currentsource 556 with no load impedance. In this embodiment, the single signalantenna source shown is a voltage source, and the controllable source isa current source. A controller 558 has an input electrically connectedto the output of the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 552 and anoutput that is electrically connected to a control input of the currentsource 556. Thus, one aspect of the present teaching is that powertransfer electrical systems can be constructed with no impedances,provided that the independent source and the controllable source areeach one of a voltage source and a current source, but not both currentsources or both voltage sources.

Another aspect of the present teaching is to provide methods and systemsthat provide variable control of the load so that the antenna canbeneficially operate at various power levels, even power levels that aredifferent by orders of magnitude. The problem of transferring power froma source to a load with signals having different power levels is that itis generally desirable when detecting low-power signals to have theantenna load at a value that extracts the maximum power. For maximumpower transfer, it is well known that the antenna load impedance must bethe complex conjugate of the antenna impedance. In contrast, it may notbe desirable, or even practical, to extract the maximum power from asource to a load with high power signals. In high power systems, it ishighly desirable to have controllable power transfer methods andapparatus that present variable antenna load impedances that areunmatched in order to maintain desired power levels to the receiver.

Thus, one feature of the source and load power transfer control methodand apparatus of the present teaching is that they can providecontrollable antenna loads for an arbitrary source that will enable theextraction of high power from some signals and lower power from othersignals, even if the spectra of the high and low power signals overlap.In one embodiment, the electrical system according to the presentteaching beneficially permits transferring as much power to a receiversystem load as desired from weak signals while simultaneouslytransferring as little power as desired from strong signals. In onespecific embodiment of the power transfer electrical system of thepresent teaching, the electrical system can operate near-optimally in anenvironment where there are both strong and weak signals that can differin power by orders of magnitude.

In some embodiments of the power transfer electrical system of thepresent teaching, the dependent load voltage source equals the antennaindependent voltage source, i.e. V_(Load) (I_(Antenna))=V_(Rx1). Oneconsequence of this condition is that the voltage at the node betweenZ_(Load) and Z_(Antenna) will also be at this potential, which issometimes referred to as a common mode voltage. A high common modevoltage can make it difficult to extract the second voltage signalV_(Rx2), especially if the first voltage signal V_(Rx1) is much greaterthan the second voltage signal V_(Rx2). Thus, one aspect of the presentteaching is to suppress undesirable high common mode voltage by using adifferencing circuit.

FIG. 6 illustrates a power transfer electrical system 600 according tothe present teaching that includes a difference circuit 602. The powertransfer electrical system 600 includes an antenna Thevenin equivalentcircuit 604, similar to the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 402 thatwas described in connection with FIG. 4A. The antenna Theveninequivalent circuit 604 includes a Thevenin antenna impedance Z_(Antenna)606 and a series combination of a first independent voltage source 608that generates a first voltage V_(Rx1) in response to a first receivedsignal and a second independent voltage source 608′ that generates asecond voltage V_(Rx2) in response to a second received signal.

The antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 604 is electrically connected toa first input 614 of the difference circuit 602. The difference circuit602 is a three terminal device with a first and second input and anoutput. A series combination of a fixed load impedance Z_(load) 610 anda controllable voltage source 612 is electrically connected to thesecond input 616 of the difference circuit 602. The output of thedifference circuit 602 provides a voltage output of the power transferelectrical system 600.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous types ofdifferencing circuits can be used with the power transfer electricalsystem 600. Some examples are described in connection with FIGS. 7A-7C.In various embodiments, differencing circuits can generate outputs thatare based on the electrical difference between two powers, two voltages,two currents, and/or a voltage and a current. In one particularembodiment, the differencing circuit 602 generates an output voltageV_(out) that is proportional to the difference between the outputvoltage of the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 604 electricallyconnected to the first input and the output of the series combination ofthe fixed load impedance Z_(load) 610 and the controllable voltagesource 612 that is electrically connected to the second input 616.

A controller 618 having an input that is electrically connected to theoutput of the differencing circuit 602 and an output that iselectrically connected to a control input of the controllable voltagesource 612 generates a control signal that determines the output voltageof the controllable voltage source 612 in response to the output of thedifferencing circuit 602. Thus, in this embodiment, the output of thedifferencing circuit 602 can be represented as:

V _(out) ∝V _(Rx1) +V _(Rx2) −V _(load) =V _(Rx1)|_(Vload=VRx1).

One advantage of the power transfer electrical system 600 is that thecommon voltage can, in principle, be completely suppressed.

FIG. 7A illustrates a balun-type differencing circuit 700, which is anexample of a passive-component embodiment of a differencing functionthat can be used with the power transfer electrical system according tothe present teaching that was described in connection with FIG. 6. Thedifferencing circuit 700 includes a balun component, which is athree-terminal device having a first and second input and an output. Thebalun shown in FIG. 7A is a two-coil transformer-type balun. One skilledin the art will appreciate that numerous other passive component types,such as a transmission-line transformer balun or a delay linetransformer balun can be used to form the differencing circuit accordingto the present teaching.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7A, the differencing circuit 700 can directlyreplace the difference circuit 602. The antenna Thevenin equivalentcircuit 604 is electrically connected to the first input 702 of thedifferencing circuit 700. The series combination of the fixed loadimpedance Z_(load) 610 and a controllable voltage source 612 iselectrically connected to the second input of the difference circuit704. In operation, the balun converts a balanced voltage signalcomprising the difference of the signal from the antenna Theveninequivalent circuit 604 and from the series combination of the fixed loadimpedance Z_(load) 610 and the controllable voltage source 612 into asingle signal referenced to ground potential. In one mode of operation,the output of the difference circuit 706 provides a voltage output ofthe power transfer electrical system 600 that is proportional to thedifference between the independent voltage output of the antennaThevenin equivalent circuit 604 and the voltage output of the seriescombination of the fixed load impedance Z_(load) 610 and thecontrollable voltage source 612.

FIG. 7B illustrates a Field Effect Transistor (FET)-type differencingcircuit 750, which is an example of an active-component embodiment ofthe differencing function that can be used with the power transferelectrical system according to the present teaching that was describedin connection with FIG. 6. The FET transistor-type differencing circuit750 includes a gate input electrode 752, a source input electrode 754,and a drain output electrode 756.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7B, the differencing circuit 750 can directlyreplace the difference circuit 602. The antenna Thevenin equivalentcircuit 604 is electrically connected to the gate input electrode 752 ofthe FET-type differencing circuit 750. The series combination of thefixed load impedance Z_(load) 610 and a controllable voltage source 612is electrically connected to the source input electrode 754 of theFET-type differencing circuit 750. The drain electrode 756 of theFET-type difference device 750 provides a voltage output of the powertransfer electrical system 600. In operation, the FET-type transistordifferencing circuit 750 provides a voltage signal at the drain output756 that is proportional to the difference between the voltage output ofthe antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 604 and the voltage output ofthe series combination of the fixed load impedance Z_(load) 610 and thecontrollable voltage source 612. One skilled in the art will appreciatethat numerous other active component types, such as a insulated-gateFET, junction-gate FET, and bipolar transistor can be used to form thedifferencing circuit according to the present teaching.

FIG. 7C illustrates a differential amplifier-type differencing circuit780, which is an example of an active-circuit embodiment of thedifferencing function that can be used with the power transferelectrical system according to the present teaching that was describedin connection with FIG. 6. The differential amplifier-type differencingcircuit 780 includes a first differential input electrode 782, a seconddifferential input electrode 784, and an output electrode 786.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7C, the differencing circuit 780 can directlyreplace the difference circuit 602. The antenna Thevenin equivalentcircuit 604 is electrically connected to the first differential inputelectrode 782 of the differential amplifier-type differencing circuit750. The series combination of the fixed load impedance Z_(load) 610 anda controllable voltage source 612 is electrically connected to thesecond differential input electrode 784 of the differentialamplifier-type differencing circuit 780. The output electrode 786 of thedifferential amplifier-type difference device 780 provides a voltageoutput of the power transfer electrical system 600. In operation, thedifferential amplifier-type transistor provides a voltage signal at theoutput electrode 786 that is proportional to the difference between thevoltage output of the antenna Thevenin equivalent circuit 604 and thevoltage output of the series combination of the fixed load impedanceZ_(load) 610 and the controllable voltage source 612. One skilled in theart will appreciate that numerous other active circuit types can be usedto form the differencing circuit according to the present teaching.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerousvariations of the power transfer electrical systems of the presentteaching. In particular, one skilled in the art will appreciate that thepresent teachings are not limited to any particular type of source andload. Furthermore, one skilled in the art will appreciate that thepresent teachings are not limited to power transfer electrical systemsthat use a controllable voltage source. For example, any type of activeelectrical sources may be used in the power transfer electrical systemsaccording to the present teaching, as long as they are dependent oncurrent or voltage generated by the antenna equivalent circuitsdescribed herein.

Equivalents

While the Applicants' teaching is described in conjunction with variousembodiments, it is not intended that the Applicant's teaching be limitedto such embodiments. On the contrary, the Applicants' teaching encompassvarious alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as will beappreciated by those of skill in the art, which may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the teaching.

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 20. A powertransfer electrical system comprising: a) an electrical source circuitthat generates an electrical signal at an output; b) an electrical sinkcircuit having an input that is electrically connected to the output ofthe electrical source circuit; c) at least one of the electrical sourcecircuit and the electrical sink circuit comprising a controllableelectrical element; d) a differencing circuit having a first input thatis electrically connected to the output of the electrical source circuitand a second input that is electrically connected to the input of theelectrical sink circuit, the differencing circuit generating adifference signal at an output; and e) a controller having an inputconnected to the output of the differencing circuit, and an outputconnected to the controllable electrical element, the controllergenerating a control signal that controls the controllable electricalelement in response to the difference signal so that a desirable amountof power is transferred from the electrical source circuit to theelectrical sink circuit.
 21. The power transfer electrical system ofclaim 20 wherein the differencing circuit is selected from the groupconsisting of a passive component, an active component, and an activecircuit.
 22. The power transfer electrical system of claim 20 whereinthe differencing circuit comprises a balun-type differencing circuit.23. The power transfer electrical system of claim 20 wherein thedifferencing circuit comprises a Field Effect Transistor (FET)-typedifferencing circuit.
 24. The power transfer electrical system of claim20 wherein the differencing circuit comprises a differentialamplifier-type differencing circuit.
 25. The power transfer electricalsystem of claim 20 wherein the electrical source circuit comprises anantenna.
 26. The power transfer electrical system of claim 25 whereinthe electrical signal generated by the electrical source circuit isgenerated by driving the antenna with a plurality of signals.
 27. Thepower transfer electrical system of claim 26 wherein at least two of theplurality of signals have different frequencies.
 28. The power transferelectrical system of claim 26 wherein at least two of the plurality ofsignals have different power levels.
 29. The power transfer electricalsystem of claim 26 wherein at least two of the plurality of signals havedifferent frequencies and different power levels.
 30. The power transferelectrical system of claim 28 wherein the controller generates a signalat the output connected to the controllable electrical element that ischosen so that a first desirable amount of power is transferred from oneof the plurality of signals to the electrical sink circuit and a seconddesirable amount of power is transferred from another of the pluralityof signals to the electrical sink circuit.
 31. The power transferelectrical system of claim 20 wherein the electrical sink circuitcomprises an electrical signal receiver.
 32. The power transferelectrical system of claim 20 wherein the electrical sink circuitcomprises a fixed electrical load.
 33. The power transfer electricalsystem of claim 20 wherein the differencing circuit suppresses a commonmode voltage.
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 44. The power transfer electrical systemof claim 20 wherein the differencing circuit comprises an activecomponent.
 45. The power transfer electrical system of claim 20 whereinthe differencing circuit comprises an active circuit.